The Law of Attraction by Kristi Gold Page B

I’ve been on a swing.”
    â€œYou still haven’t answered my question,” he said.
    â€œI don’t understand your question.” A lie. She understood it completely.
    â€œI saw Moreau harassing you and I wanted to make sure you’re all right.”
    And to think she’d been so careful to keep her voice lowered when she’d made that verbal jab at Troy’s anatomy. She turned and propped an elbow on the railing to find Daniel still staring off into space. “I promise you, Counselor, I’m fine. Troy seems to think that if he gives the word, any woman will gladly join him in bed and thank him for it later.”
    â€œBut not you.”
    â€œNot me.” Not anymore.
    Daniel finally looked at her, his handsome face washed in the glow of a lone tiki torch set out in the corner of the veranda. “Are you sure that’s all it was, a proposition?”
    A proposition that entailed taking up where they’d left off, something Alisha didn’t care to share—or to even consider, for that matter. “Look, Moreau’s a shark, and although it took me awhile to realize that, I washed my hands of him the minute I walked out of my former firm.”
    â€œIf you say so.”
    â€œI say so.” Alisha once more surveyed the playground to keep from staring at Daniel. Confronting Troy again served to remind her why she needed to avoid any further involvement with the prosecutor. Fellow attorneys made dicey bed-fellows, no matter what side of the law you happened to land on. “Isn’t your public awaiting you inside?”
    â€œI’ve already made my rounds.”
    â€œSo have I. I better get back inside and find Joe and Julie. If I’m lucky, they’ll be ready to leave soon.”
    â€œThey’ve already left.”
    Alisha’s gaze snapped back to Daniel. “How do you know?”
    Daniel turned and leaned a hip against the rail. “Because he stopped me and told me that if I saw you, I’m to tell you that his wife ate something that didn’t agree with her and he needed to take her home. He sends his apologies and hopes you don’t have any trouble finding a ride.”
    Oh, lovely. “Guess it’s time to call a cab.”
    â€œI’ll give you a ride.”
    She just bet he could. “That’s not necessary.”
    â€œI know, but I want to do it.”
    â€œAnd how do you propose we manage that, Mr. Fortune? Just waltz out of here together and in doing so start the rumor mill spinning out of control?”
    He hinted at a grin. “I think waltzing through the crowd without the benefit of music might be fairly obvious. We don’t have to leave together. I’ll get my car from the valet and I’ll park at the end of the lot. You can pretend to be going to your own car and I’ll pick you up.”
    Apparently he’d planned the whole thing in great detail. “And if someone sees me getting into your car?”
    â€œIt’s dark outside. And even if someone did see us, I could always say you were having car trouble.”
    She’d be borrowing trouble if she agreed to this and putting more than her reputation at risk if she couldn’t resist him. “I’m still not sure this is a good plan.”
    â€œSure it is. I take you home, we say good night and you go inside alone. Nothing more than that.”
    He sounded sincere, but could she really trust him? Better still, could she trust herself? Of course, she could avoid cab fare. She could hop out of the car before he even had a chance to park. “Okay, you’re on.”
    He pushed off the railing and smiled. “I’ll go back inside first. Give me about ten minutes to get my car and I’ll meet you at the end of the drive.”
    â€œExactly what kind of car am I looking for?”
    â€œA black sports coupe,” he said as he headed for the entry.
    â€œThat’s rather vague.”
    With one